Van de Putte joins race for Lt. Governor: “Long rumored to be a contender, state Sen. Leticia Van De Putte has now made it official: She is running for lieutenant governor.

“I want to be your lieutenant governor because Mama ain’t happy — because Texas, we can do better,” Van de Putte said in a roughly 25-minute speech Saturday that touched heavily on the importance of family in her life.” — Texas Tribune 11/23/13

Leticia Van de Putte Declares For Texas Lt. Governor

More on Leticia Van de Putte: Texas blogger Charles Kuffner has a roundup of articles about State Sen. Leticia Van de Putte and her announcement to run for Texas Lt. Governor on the Democratic ticket joining State Sen. Wendy Davis, the candidate for Governor => Off the Kuff 11/26/13

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SUPREME COURT RULES ON OBAMACARE

Supreme Court dismisses challenge to Obamacare mandate: “The last, great hope of Republicans to see Obamacare killed outright is officially dead. They haven’t been able to repeal it. They ran a presidential campaign on ending it, and were overwhelmingly rejected. The Supreme Court decided not to overturn the entire law once already, and has now dismissed the last big case challenging the underpinnings of the law.”

“They’re not going to kill it outright. They’re officially out of opportunities. They’re out of time legislatively, since they’re going on the long recess on December 13. They’ll have to change strategies now, because after January 1 repeal means taking people’s insurance away, something even most Republicans will recognize isn’t politically smart. So now it’s going to be more efforts to chip away, to refuse to allow any fixes, to create as many obstacles as possible at the state level for implementation.” — Daily Kos 12/2/13

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LEGAL MARIJUANA

Will legal pot hurt the booze business?: “With marijuana law reform sweeping the nation, will consumers be driven to drink more or less alcohol? As the legalization of recreational marijuana gains momentum across the United States with public support at an all-time high, many advocates eagerly await to see what effect legalization will have on big alcohol. Will it be forced to fight for market share? Or is alcohol so heavily ingrained in our society that pot legalization will barely create a ripple with booze consumption remaining unaffected?” — AlterNet 11/26/13

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U.S. HOUSE 2014

Male Republican candidates get tutoring in how to run against women: “The National Republican Congressional Committee wants to make sure there are no Todd Akin-style gaffes next year, so it’s meeting with top aides of sitting Republicans to teach them what to say — or not to say — on the trail, especially when their boss is running against a woman.

“Speaker John Boehner is serious, too. His own top aides met recently with Republican staff to discuss how lawmakers should talk to female constituents.”

“There have been “multiple sessions” with the NRCC where aides to incumbents were schooled in “messaging against women opponents,” one GOP aide said.

“While GOP party leaders have talked repeatedly of trying to “rebrand” the party after the 2012 election losses, the latest effort shows they’re not entirely confident the job is done.” — Politico 12/5/13

The GOP comes to Detroit, MI hoping to woo black voters: “The moves in Detroit and elsewhere are part of a GOP plan to connect with minority voters, who widely rejected the party in last year’s presidential election.”

“The state Republican Party will open an African American Engagement Office on Friday morning as part of a nationwide effort to reach out to black voters. Then, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. — expected by many to run for president in 2016 — will outline a plan to the Detroit Economic Club to get the bankrupt city back on its feet by slashing taxes.”

“But it hasn’t been an entirely smooth start for the Republicans’ efforts, which grew out of a national plan unveiled in March that called for greater outreach to minority communities, especially in urban areas all but abandoned to Democrats.” — USA Today 12/5/13

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About At Random

I am (Ms.) Jay White Feather, a lifelong New York City resident, born and raised on the mean streets of Manhattan back in the day. I am of Native American heritage -- a native New Yorker who grew up back when it meant something to be a New Yorker. And to me, it still does mean something.